The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
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with regards to racing, it could be more to do with social circles. Almost all of my mates will watch the carnivals every saturday, and we'll regularly travel for racing events. Most of us own horses too. We all have Cairns Jockey Club memberships. Some of us are also members elsewhere.
This was not always the case. I only opened a betting account before the first Everest (thank you Redzel!). I can't remember every discussing the weekend's racing with people who weren't also racing people. Shit, i still don't now (I don't really need to, group chats mean we have done it all in real time).
Maybe my point is we are getting older and everything is changing, not least the way we consume media, and interact with people. Some good, lots not
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
100%. Tourism used to be a fun industry to work in. Now it is just like every other industry, constricted by red tape and the fear of liability.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Maybe my point is we are getting older and everything is changing, not least the way we consume media, and interact with people. Some good, lots not
I think that's true, but I do think there are a few very clear signs that the Cup isn't what it was.
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
That's a part of it for sure. I also think a run of very prominent horse deaths turned off a portion of people and gave voice to the animal activists. So big workplaces became more risk averse when it came to a boozy Tuesday lunch but also the issue of animal cruelty .
Previously you had one or two hippies in the workplace who didn't like the Cup, but they broadly stuck to their knitting when the race was on and nobody cared. Now their are more of them, and their issues are more keenly felt by workplaces wanting to be more inclusive, for better or worse.
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I'll reply more on what is not one of my busiest days of the year.
But for context, turnover on the day continues to grow each year and active customers have been up in the last few years too. Not hugely but an increase none the less.
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The roar at Flemington when they jump, when they go past the straight the first time, and at the finish, is unlike anything i have heard. The energy is incredible.
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
Even before Covid my workplace had banned any drinking in the building, so the Friday drinks trolley was a thing of the past. Post Covid work functions are basically non-existent, especially with so many people working 2 - 3 days from home.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
The roar at Flemington when they jump, when they go past the straight the first time, and at the finish, is unlike anything i have heard. The energy is incredible.
I don't doubt that at all. I think racing as an event itself is still very strong. Because at the end of the day people love to dress up and get on the cans with their mates on a lovely spring day.
I suppose my thoughts were more on it's cultural cut-through. Talk around the watercooler etc.
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I went last year. It was absolutely awesome. Over the four day festival about 260k attended. Is racing for everyone? No. Does it matter? No. I'm a very enthusiastic punter, but I'm careful about who I advertise it to in woke old Wellington. Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets. As for the work culture angle. It is great work drinks are a thing of the past, including trying to incorporate events like these. I make a good wicket, and don't want to jepordise it by offending Indigo the HR advisor after making a shitty joke.
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@SouthernMann said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets.
And in that regard I think the VRC/ATC have been very smart, pivoting from Carnivals and big days being festivals rather than just race days.
But I do contest your point to some extend, in that while the day itself is well attended, it's on the decline in the sense that it's no longer 'the race that stops a nation' where 80-90% of the general population have an interest in the race, who wins etc.
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@barbarian said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@SouthernMann said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets.
And in that regard I think the VRC/ATC have been very smart, pivoting from Carnivals and big days being festivals rather than just race days.
But I do contest your point to some extend, in that while the day itself is well attended, it's on the decline in the sense that it's no longer 'the race that stops a nation' where 80-90% of the general population have an interest in the race, who wins etc.
Can say that about anything though. The NPC final in NZ used to get 35k attending. It doesn't anymore. People are getting more diverse interests. Racing clubs, are pivoting to ensure younger people are enjoying events. There are good events during the year.
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so attendance is up, viewership is up, betting numbers are up, but it's on the "decline"?
and you are basing it on a made up number of 20-24 million people caring at some point in the past? right
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
so attendance is up, viewership is up, betting numbers are up, but it's on the "decline"?
and you are basing it on a made up number of 20-24 million people caring at some point in the past? right
Well viewership is down. In 2012 there were 2.7 million metropolitan Aus viewers, while last year there was just 1.02m. That continued a general downward trend. We've had 'lowest ratings ever' figures every year since 2019.
And I'm basing it on my experience in workplaces, and my wife and family as well. Not a scientific poll but it's not nothing either when you are talking about cultural relevance.
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I reckon it’s at least 90% about workplace drinking culture thank anything racing related
Workplaces can’t be seen to be encouraging boozing on their premises and time anymore, they’ll end up in court with cases levelled against them.
And for the worker, a poorly judged joke doesn’t mean rocking up to work the next day feeling a little sheepish - it can earn you a cancellation and a pretty uncomfortable conversation with the missus and any future employer
And of course there are real events that have occurred which can’t be dismissed
I think it’s a shame we can’t find the balance of a few drinks, dressing nice, some banter, v going to absolute zero. Like others, I never stay late at work functions ( nothing good happens after 10pm rule), but I’m pretty partisl to having a couple with colleagues early. Great way to get to know them a little
Anyway, we have a telly on in the office, a sweep, a few drinks too - then it’s back to work for me for the remaining 5 meetings in my diary - so anyone having fun today can get fcked!
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it's fast losing relevance for me if the punt doesn't fucking improve. jesus wept
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On my way to the GC turf club and there's plenty of dolled up fillies on their way to functions.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
it's fast losing relevance for me if the punt doesn't fucking improve. jesus wept
I'm staring down a very ugly day. Struggled putting my finger in the snooze it has been that bad
